Ellis Baby Blanket

Ellis Baby Blanket by Knit & Purl Makes

What is Being Made

The Ellis Baby Blanket is a lace blanket designed for knitters seeking an elegant yet accessible project. This downloadable PDF pattern offers two finished sizes to suit different needs: a Small blanket measuring 60 x 76 cm (23½ x 30 inches) and a Large blanket measuring 79 x 96 cm (31 x 38 inches). The blanket features a sophisticated lace pattern combined with simple textured panels, creating visual interest while remaining manageable for intermediate-level knitters. The blanket and border are knitted all-in-one, eliminating the need for separate finishing steps.

Techniques Used

The Ellis Baby Blanket employs lace knitting as its primary decorative technique, paired with knit and purl textured panels to create contrast and depth. The lace pattern is suitable for advanced beginners to intermediate knitters, making it an ideal project for those looking to develop their lace-working skills. The pattern is presented in both written instructions and charted format, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method of following the pattern. The all-in-one construction method means the border is integrated into the main knitting process rather than added separately, streamlining the overall project workflow.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern incorporates lace stitches alongside fundamental knitting techniques. One key stitch abbreviation referenced in the pattern is CDD (Central Double Decrease), which is a decrease technique commonly used in lace knitting to create decorative shaping and openwork effects. The combination of lace stitches with simple knit and purl textures creates a balanced design that showcases the delicate openwork without overwhelming the knitter.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Ellis Baby Blanket is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides excellent drape and definition for lace patterns. The pattern specifies Bergere de France IDEAL DK yarn as the recommended yarn choice. For the Small size, you will need 5 x 50g balls (625 meters total), while the Large size requires 8 x 50g balls (1000 meters total). Alternatively, any standard DK weight yarn totaling the specified yardage can be substituted.

Needles required are 3.75mm, available in either straight or circular styles depending on your preference and knitting method. The pattern specifies working to a tension of 22 stitches to 10cm (4 inches) in pattern. While tension is noted as not crucial for a blanket project, working at a different tension will affect the finished blanket size and may alter the yarn requirements accordingly.

Difficulty Level

Classified as an intermediate difficulty project, the Ellis Baby Blanket is accessible to knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore lace techniques. The combination of straightforward written and charted instructions makes this pattern approachable for those expanding their technical repertoire.